America’s allies in the Pacific are building their own amphibious forces and training them to fight alongside American troops even as the U.S. Marine Corps prepares to cut thousands of Marines from its rolls.

'OORAH' DOWN UNDER

U.S. Marines in Darwin are using the vast open spaces to prepare for combat missions, practice disaster-response scenarios and work with Australian forces on sharing skills and improving cooperation between longtime allies.

In most cases, the Australian Defence Force looks to overseas candidates to fill gaps that are currently not being satisfied by standard recruitment practices, according to the Defence Force’s website.

The Royal Australian Air Force, for example, is looking for overseas applicants to serve as fast jet pilots, air combat officers, electrical engineers, medical officers and intelligence analysts.

“We recognize that these candidates can bring skills and attributes to the Navy, Army and Air Force that will strengthen their overall operation and success rate,” the ADF website states.

Defense officials say that hundreds of U.S., British, Canadian and New Zealand troops have transferred to the Australian military in recent years.

In the last 10 years, the Australian air force recruited more than 220 overseas personnel under the lateral transfer scheme, officials said. Since 2010, the Royal Australian Army has employed more than 100 foreign servicemembers through the program, according to the Australian Defence Ministry.

“Approximately 30 candidates ranked at captain to major and 35 candidates ranked at sergeant to master sergeant (equivalent) are recruited to the Australian Army from a range of overseas military forces each year,” officials said.

Royal Australian Navy personnel director Commodore Peter Laver said his navy will grow over the next five years and that it’s looking for officers and sailors to transfer from U.S. ranks. The Australians are particularly interested in submariners and people with experience in combat systems that are used in combined operations with the U.S. Navy, he said.

In the next decade, the Australian Navy will develop new amphibious warfare, air warfare helicopter systems and submarine capabilities. It’s using lateral recruitment to fill ranks and specializations that can enhance those capabilities.

“There are also ongoing opportunities at sea and ashore to support submarines, frigates, patrol boats as well as general engineering, project management and warfare capabilities,” the Defense Force website states.

The introduction of three guided-missile destroyers this year also means the Australian navy is looking for personnel with Aegis Weapon System experience. Specifically, it is seeking specialists in Aegis computer networks, SPY 1 radar and Aegis fire control.

One former U.S. servicemember who joined the ADF through the program is Capt. Thomas Tilque.

A veteran of 10 years in the Marine Corps, Tilque was based in California and Okinawa and deployed to Iraq in 2003 and 2005 and Afghanistan in 2010 before transitioning to the reserves in 2011.

“A lot of Australians, whether civilians or military, have either visited the States or worked with U.S. forces in Iraq or Afghanistan,” he said.

Tilque has signed up for six years — the standard commitment for officers — and plans to reassess his options after that.

Laver, the Australian Navy personnel director, said ADF personnel do not receive the sort of retirement benefits that U.S. personnel are eligible for after 20 years of service. Instead, they contribute part of their pay and receive a lump sum at the end of their service.

With the U.S. defense budget shrinking, thousands of U.S. troops will soon be forced to look elsewhere for a job. Heading Down Under might be just the answer, Tilque said.

“With the downturn in the U.S. military, maybe people are looking to stay in a military environment,” he said. “This is an opportunity that is unique in the world.”

This year’s deadline for lateral transfer applications for the Australian Army is May 31. Closing dates for Royal Australian Navy overseas recruiting applications this year are July 1 for submariners and Dec. 1 for other applicants, the website states.

Applicants must satisfy normal Australian citizenship conditions and will be required to complete a series of selection requirements. The Australian government covers the cost of visa applications and moving expenses.

American servicemembers recruited under the lateral transfer plan add new skills and experience to the Australian military, Laver said.

“Previous experience is an asset to their new employment,” he said. “We have a lot to learn from their background and we teach them about life in Australia.”